The Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze has been a festival favorite for rodeo-goers for over 30 years!  

The committee recognized 2023 as their 35th year of planning, however pandemic shut-downs and restrictions kept the cowboys out of the ring.  So, this year marks the 32nd year of getting back in the saddle!

The annual event is coming back to Virden August 17-20 with more ring-side rodeo action and downtown activities throughout the 4-days!

"This year we've changed it up a little bit," says Lonnie Brown, Chair of the Rodeo Committee. "We're going to do two days of High School Rodeo."

Thursday morning's Manitoba High School Rodeo kicks off the series of events at 9:00 am at the Tundra Oil & Gas Place, followed by the official opening of downtown Virden's Wild West Daze around 5:00 pm.

Friday is an early start with the young riders taking to the saddle again at 8 am with the Manitoba High School Rodeo.

The main Rodeo Performance will be held Friday evening (7:30 pm) and Saturday (6:30 pm) with the short round Final Performance held on Sunday (5:30 pm).

"On top of that around the rodeo grounds we've also got 3-D Barrel Racing Saturday and Sunday, and a Tie-down Roping Jackpot most of Sunday leading up to the Final Performance," explains Brown. "So, we've got lots of rodeo action going on for people who are interested in that!"

Last year the rodeo committee added the Ladies' Breakaway Roping and Rodeo, and with a strong response, Brown says they're thrilled to have this event back.

"This has become very popular over the last 5 years," he says. "So, we were excited to embrace that change, and we were really happy with the number of entries that we got, and the extra action that it added to the performances, for sure!"

The Virden Rodeo is a significant event for members of the Canadian Cowboys Association circuit, says Brown.  "Where our rodeo falls, it's kind of getting into the later part of the season so people who've been travelling the rodeos all over Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba for the year, this is one of the last good chances to move up in the standings so that they can make sure that they get into the Canadian Cowboys Assocation Finals."

 Canadian Cowboys Assocation Rodeo Finals are scheduled for October 20-23, 2023, in Saskatoon, SK.

Please listen to your personal invite to the Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze from Lonnie Brown below.

For the full schedule visit their website or click HERE!

Virden Indoor Rodeo – Ten times winner of the MRCA Rodeo of the Year